Parking Garage Conversion Slows Down County Says Office Project May Cost More Than Expected

March 17, 1988|by VALERIE HILDEBEITEL, The Morning Call

Renovating a former parking garage to house Lehigh County's Voter Registration and Human Services Central offices may take a little longer and cost a little more than originally anticipated, a county official said last night.

Voter Registration will be moving from the courthouse basement to the former Motoramp at 5th and Court streets to accommodate expansion in the computer center.

Human Services Central, already in the former garage, will be moved to the rear of the building's east side after renovations are made.

Originally tagged at $241,000, the project is now estimated at slightly more than $300,000, James P. Creedon, director of Planning and Development, told the commissioners' planning committee.

Costs are being driven upward by unanticipated floor renovations needed to support the weight of 9,000-pound, rotating filing machines used by Voter Registration, Creedon said.

In addition, project architects have expressed some concern over the effects of the area's economic boom, he said. An abundance of work in the area will cut down the number of firms interested in the project, he explained.

And with increased construction costs comes an attendant increase in architectural and engineering fees, Creedon added.

Other unexpected expenses include a special hookup to link Voter Registration computers to the courthouse mainframe computer and special telephone connections for rental office space at the Capri building and at the Motoramp, Creedon said.

During construction, Human Services Central will rent space at the Capri.

Creedon also advised the commissioners that the project architect is researching whether, since the building is a former garage, the Department of Labor and Industry will invoke special standards that could require upgrading the entire building rather than the renovated areas.

Both Voter Registration and Human Services Central are expected to be moved into the renovated offices by late September, he said.